# India rejects U.S. lawmaker's criticism of voter roll changes

> India's government dismissed Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's concerns about 130 million voters removed from electoral rolls as unwarranted interference in its democracy.
- Title: India rejects U.S. lawmaker's criticism of voter roll changes
- Summary: India's government dismissed Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's concerns about 130 million voters removed from electoral rolls as unwarranted interference in…
- Keywords: pramila jayapal, india, election commission of india, electoral rolls, special intensive revision, gyanesh kumar, united states, india-u.s. relations, news, politics, rejects, lawmaker's
- Source: The Hindu — https://thehindu.com/news/national/unwarranted-and-uninformed-india-rejects-us-lawmakers-comments-on-revision-of-electoral-rolls/article71593894.ece
- Author: PTI
- Published: 2026-10-16T16:39:31+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pramila jayapal, india, election commission of india, electoral rolls, special intensive revision, gyanesh kumar, united states, india-u.s. relations, news, politics
## Jayapal raises alarm on voter removals
U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal expressed deep concern on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, about reports of 13 crore voter names removed from India's draft electoral rolls.
## Jayapal compares India to Trump tactics
Jayapal alleged the Indian government's actions mirror the Trump Administration's playbook to undermine voting rights. She said the Indian people deserve free and fair elections.

> I am deeply concerned about the actions of the Indian government to purge 130 million people from the voting rolls
## India calls remarks unwarranted interference
On Friday, October 16, 2026, India's Ministry of External Affairs rejected Jayapal's comments as unwarranted, uninformed, and tantamount to interfering in electoral practices of a fellow democracy.

> We find the remarks of the Congresswoman unwarranted and uninformed and tantamount to interfering in the electoral practices of a fellow democracy.
## MEA: approach undermines democracy itself
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the approach of questioning India's electoral process undermines democracy itself during his bi-weekly media briefing.

> This is an approach that undermines democracy itself
## Scale of voter deletions across India
More than 13 crore names have been struck off draft electoral rolls across 30 States and Union Territories since the Election Commission began the Special Intensive Revision in June 2025.
## Deletion numbers by phase
In the first and second phases across 13 States and Union Territories, 7.2 crore names were deleted. In the ongoing third phase covering 18 States and Union Territories, 6.16 crore names have been deleted.
## India's ambassador echoes government stance
India's ambassador to the U.S., Vinay Mohan Kwatra, posted on Thursday, October 15, 2026, that Jayapal's remarks on India's electoral processes are unacceptable interference in India's internal affairs.

> The remarks by @RepJayapal on India's electoral and political processes are unacceptable interference in India's internal affairs
## Key takeaway

India rejected U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's criticism of the Election Commission's removal of 130 million voter names from electoral rolls, calling it interference in a fellow democracy.